Rifleman Charles Lay was born in 1891 in Marylebone, one of three children of Louis Herbert Lay and Elizabeth Lay. Various records list his father alternatively as Herbert Louis Lay and list his many occupations over the years as an Insurance Agent, a Laundry Agent and a Commercial Traveller for a Stove Maker.
On 6 December 1891 he was baptised at St Mark's Church, Hamilton Terrace, Marylebone, where the baptismal register shows the family were living at 30 Hill Road, Marylebone. The 1901 census shows the family living at 10 Golders Hill Terrace, Hampstead and they were still there at the time of the 1911 census, his occupation being listed as a Solicitor's Clerk.
In November 1915 he enlisted in the 5th (City of London) Battalion, The London Regiment (London Rifle Brigade), service number 3178 and entered France on 25 January 1917. Later during the war when service numbers were changed his became 302218.
On 30 January 1918 he was attached to the 1st/28th (County of London) Battalion, The London Regiment (Artists' Rifles) and died of wounds and a prisoner of war, aged 27 years, on 25 March 1918 and is commemorated in Bay 9, Course 'E', Stone No.10 of the Arras Memorial, in the Faubourg d'Amiens British Cemetery, Arras, France.
He was posthumously awarded the British War Medal 1914-1918 and the Victory Medal and these were sent to his father at 91 North End Road, Golders Green. He is also commemorated on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's website.
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
